Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn.--When Connecticut College men's soccer takes the field against Hamilton College this weekend, the team will be raising awareness for Green Dot, a campus initiative to prevent power-based personal violence through bystander intervention.
The game is at 2 p.m. on Connecticut College's Tempel Green. There is no charge for admission or parking.
Team members and fans will wear Green Dot apparel and trained students will be on-hand to distribute information about the program, part of the College's broader initiative to addresses sexual assault, dating violence and stalking by integrating prevention, response training and education into the campus culture, building a community coalition and enhancing victim services.
"The Green Dot program is something we feel really strong about as a team," said senior Max Nichols. "As student-athletes with campus campus-wide respect, we feel like we have a responsibility to promote an environment where everyone feels safe and comfortable. With a lot of the social life revolving around sports team, we believe that we should be proactive in promoting a healthy and inclusive social life on campus."
The men's soccer game will mark the College's fourth athletic event — after two men's hockey games and a women's lacrosse game — to connect Green Dot with the College's athletic programs.
"We are so excited to be working with another team in the Athletic Department," said Darcie Folsom, director of sexual violence education and advocacy at Connecticut College. "Men's soccer has joined men's ice hockey and women's lacrosse in our efforts to change the culture regarding power-based personal violence."
Since the program was launched on campus in 2010, more than 400 students – including 13 men's soccer players -- have been Green Dot trained. The training teaches students to recognize warning signs of sexual and dating violence and teaches them how to safely intervene.
Connecticut College Head Men's Soccer Coach Kenny Murphy is proud of his team's commitment to the Green Dot program.
"Peer intervention training through the Green Dot program here at Connecticut College is producing results," he said. "The men's soccer team is ready to spread the word."
